July 2026 – My Sanctuary

Review Card & Book Review – Secrets Between Friends By Sheila O’Flanagan

Ailie, Sybil and Rua can take care of themselves. But when they form an unexpected friendship, they discover new perspectives on old problems.

Ailie is recently widowed, and struggling. At least she can cut ties with her toxic Italian in-laws. Except her teenage daughter is joining them in Trieste. Should Ailie follow, and confront the family who can’t forgive her?

Sybil has learned to be happy alone. But her younger sister, Tansy, thinks Sybil needs to find a man before it’s too late. And she has the perfect candidate. Can Sybil cope with Tansy interfering – again?

Twice Rua has faced the worst, and twice she’s started over. All that matters now is protecting her daughter. Yet she’s kept the full story from her. Is it time to trust Brontë with the truth?

About The Author

My Review

This Book is about grief, healing, and the transformative power of friendship as three women from different generations find unexpected companionship after life-changing loss. The novel gently explores how connection can help rebuild lives that feel irreparably altered.

Sybil, Ailie, and Rua are each navigating widowhood and the uncertainty that follows. Their chance meeting grows into a meaningful friendship that becomes the emotional backbone of the story. Sybil’s independence masks loneliness, Ailie struggles with her late husband’s hidden past and her daughter’s ties to Italy, and Rua faces the bittersweet reality of letting her daughter step into adulthood. Each storyline carries distinct emotional weight, yet they weave together seamlessly.

O’Flanagan’s strength lies in her warm, empathetic storytelling. The pacing is gentle, allowing the friendships to develop naturally through everyday moments—coffee dates, shared meals, and heartfelt conversations. The settings, stretching from Ireland to France and Italy, add a subtle sense of escape while never overshadowing the emotional core.

Ultimately, this is a compassionate, uplifting novel about resilience, rediscovery, and the quiet but powerful ways friendship can help people move forward after loss.

Unexpected Friendship

Healing After Loss

Fresh Starts & Self-Discovery

Intergenerational Friendship

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Review Card & Book Review- Where We Belong By Savannah Carlisle

Chloe Beckett has always believed in the magic of community. Raised on Big Dune Island, Chloe found her place in the kitchen of her grandmother’s coastal home, where neighbors became family and stories were passed down over cups of coffee.

Years later, Island Coffee isn’t just a café. It’s the heart of Main Street. Locals gather beneath its string lights, with mismatched china, sharing morning rituals and lifelong memories. After years of living in her famous brother’s shadow, Chloe is stepping into the spotlight—competing on a reality TV show for a prize that could expand her café’s legacy to the next town over.

However, the competition is fierce with social media superstars and slick MBAs. Chloe knows exactly who she should ask for help—Michael Russo, a New York real estate investor whose world revolves around profits and projections. Her crush on him has gone unnoticed for years, and this is the perfect excuse to spend more time with him. But it’s Chloe who begins to rewrite everything he thought he knew about success.

Will competing for her dreams finally help Chloe transform from the little sister who needed help into the woman who can stand on her own, both in the eyes of her family and Michael?

About The Author

My Review

This book is about chasing dreams, redefining success, and discovering love while fighting for a small-town business on a national stage. The story follows Chloe Beckett as she joins a reality TV competition for entrepreneurs to win recognition for her beloved Island Coffee café.

The reality-show backdrop adds a fun, modern twist to a cozy small-town romance. As Chloe competes through increasingly demanding rounds, the story balances professional ambition with heartfelt personal growth. Her journey is supported by the charming Big Dune Island community, which gives the novel a warm, escapist feel that truly lives up to its beach-town setting.

Michael, her brother’s best friend and business partner, becomes an especially compelling presence. Their evolving friendship—built on encouragement, honest feedback, and shared ambition—develops naturally into a tender romance. The contrast between Chloe’s passion-driven vision and Michael’s more traditional business mindset creates engaging tension and meaningful character development.

The addition of a strong antagonist brings extra drama and momentum, ensuring the story never feels too gentle. Overall, this is a heartfelt, uplifting romance filled with community spirit, personal growth, and dreamy coastal charm—perfect for readers craving an inspiring and feel-good escape.

Small-Town Romance

Brother’s Best Friend

Reality TV Competition

Coastal Romance

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 21 July 2026

Every Single Broken Piece By Michelle Heard

Kelcie

After losing my entire family in a brutal attack, I’m drowning in grief. The only bright spot? My mysterious new neighbor, Levi—a tattooed bestselling author who somehow understands my pain.

He’s grumpy, he’s damaged, and he hates being touched. Except by me.

Levi

I moved next door to Kelcie for one reason: to make sure she’s okay after the tragedy that took her family. A tragedy I know more about than I should.

She’s the only person whose touch doesn’t make my skin crawl. The only one who makes me want to be whole again.

But I’m hiding a devastating secret—one that connects me to the worst night of her life. And when she discovers the truth, it could destroy the fragile love we’ve built from our broken pieces.

Playing With Fire By Christy McKellen

One Night to Settle the Score

Ten years ago, April Darlington-Hume broke ex-tennis star Jamie De Montfort ‘s heart and vanished without a word. Since then, he’s had nothing but questions… and a memory of the passion they once shared.

When a scandalously heated encounter at a fundraiser throws them back together, he finally sees his chance to get the answers he’s waited a decade for. So he makes April an offer he knows an ambitious businesswoman like her can’t refuse.

He’ll sell her his father’s company—if she admits he’s the only man who’s ever truly satisfied her. It’s a simple plan: remind her exactly what she’s been missing, drive her wild with desire, and tempt the truth out of her at last.

But every heated touch and dangerous glance proves one thing—whatever burned between them ten years ago never really went out. And this time, the fire might consume them both.

Review Card & Book Review- Unplanned By Mary Sue Jackson

BRIAN
They say time heals everything. Whoever said that never dated Caitlin Baker.It’s been years since we ended, and most days, I pretend I’m over her. Then she walks back into my life—all curves and chaos—and suddenly, I’m right back where I swore I’d never be.

One night. That’s all it was supposed to be. She had her city life. I had my badge and this town. It was better that way. Cleaner. Safer But now she’s back—for real. Broke, stubborn, and crashing in my damn spare room. I tell myself I can handle it. Keep it friendly. Keep my heart out of it.

Then she tells me she’s pregnant. And just like that, I’m all in.
Even if I know how this ends. She’s never wanted to stay.
And I’ve never planned to leave.

CAITLIN
I never planned on coming back to Poplar Springs.
And I sure as hell didn’t plan on falling back into Brian’s bed. But when everything fell apart, this was the only place left. I told myself I’d keep it simple. Work. Save up. Move on.

But nothing’s simple when Brian’s involved. He’s steadier than I remember. Stronger, too. And the way he looks at me? Like he never stopped.I was already halfway gone when I found out I was pregnant.

Now I’m stuck between the life I thought I wanted…And the man I’ve never stopped loving But he belongs to this town. And I’ve never belonged anywhere.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about a second-chance small-town romance where past heartbreak collides with unexpected proximity and lingering feelings. The story follows Sheriff Brian Thorne and Caitlin, the woman he once loved and painfully let go during their college years.

A chance reunion leads to a one-night rekindling, but when Caitlin reappears weeks later in Poplar Springs, the pair find themselves unexpectedly sharing a home as roommates. Determined to keep boundaries in place, Brian insists they remain just housemates, even as old emotions resurface. Their shared history, combined with unresolved grief and family struggles, gives the romance a heartfelt emotional core. Brian’s deep ties to his hometown contrast with Caitlin’s difficult past and desire for independence, creating believable tension and vulnerability.

The story shines in its portrayal of healing, trust, and the comfort of community, especially through Brian’s supportive family and the town’s lively rodeo backdrop. While the pacing leans gentle and character-driven, the emotional stakes keep the narrative engaging. Overall, this is a warm, tender romance about forgiveness, rebuilding trust, and discovering that love can return when least expected.

Second-Chance Romance

Forced Proximity

Small-Town Romance

Healing & Emotional Baggage

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Happy Publication Day – 20 July 2026

Glow Job By Kristen Bailey

Taylor

I wanted a baby — no strings, no messy emotions. Just a donor I could trust — my best friend. He didn’t hesitate or ask why. He said yes… with one condition: no clinics, no cold procedures. Just him — his bed, his way. I should have said no. But I wanted this. And I didn’t realise how much I wanted him. I told myself I could handle it — keep my heart locked tight. But the moment he touched me, all those lies fell apart. Now I’m falling — for a man who never promised me anything but his body. And my deepest desire risks becoming my darkest downfall. But now there’s no turning back.

Axel

She asked me to give her a baby. No love. No future. Just a piece of me. I ain’t a good man. I ain’t the kind you build a life with. But this… this was my one chance to touch heaven and pretend it wouldn’t burn me alive. So I took her. Over and over. Knowing she’ll never be mine. But now I’m addicted. Possessive. I don’t want just her body — I want her soul. Her future. Her everything. And when she walks away — like we both know she will — it’ll break me. Because I’d give her the world… But I’ll never be worthy of it.

Review Card & Book Review- Filthy Rich Redemption By Rachael Stewart

Taylor

Axel

About The Author

My Review

This book is about a bold and unconventional arrangement between lifelong friends that slowly unravels into something far more emotional and transformative. In this book, Rachael Stewart explores the complicated bond between Taylor and Axel, whose agreement to conceive a child without commitment quickly blurs as long-buried feelings rise to the surface.

What begins as a pragmatic decision—Taylor’s desire for motherhood and Axel’s willingness to help—evolves into a deeply layered romance filled with tension, vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry. Axel’s long-standing love for Taylor adds emotional weight, while Taylor’s guarded independence creates a push-and-pull dynamic that keeps the story engaging.

The novel balances high heat with heartfelt themes, particularly the emotional challenges surrounding fertility and the fear of wanting more than what was promised. Moments with Lottie bring warmth and humor, softening the intensity of the central relationship.

Although it works as a standalone, prior context enriches the experience. Overall, this is a steamy yet emotionally grounded story about love, timing, and the courage to risk everything for a second chance.

Friends to Lovers

Baby Pact

He Falls First

Second Chance at Love

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Review Card & Book Review- Hopes And Dreams At The Chocolate Pot Cafe By Jessica Redland

🌼 Welcome to Whitsborough Bay, a place where hopes and dreams really do come true… ✨

Life at the Chocolate Pot Café has never been sweeter for Tara Porter. Nestled on Castle Street in Whitsborough Bay, her café is thriving, her friendships are close, her foster parents are back where they belong—and she’s finally let herself fall in love with artist Jed Ferguson.

For Jed, returning from Australia feels like coming home in every sense. His teenage daughters have settled, his gallery opening is a success, and with Tara by his side, the future looks full of promise.

But the past can’t stay at bay forever.

When Tara’s estranged foster sister reappears, old wounds resurface. And when Jed is reunited with twelve year old Aaron – a boy he once believed was his son – secrets unravel and loyalties are tested.

Now Tara and Jed must decide whether facing the past will shatter everything they’ve built—or hope it gives them the strength and courage to dream again.

About The Author

My Review

This book is about finding the courage to face the past while holding onto hope for a brighter, more secure future. In Hopes and Dreams at the Chocolate Pot Café, Jessica Redland returns readers to Whitsborough Bay, where Tara Porter’s seemingly settled life begins to shift under the weight of unresolved history and emotional reckonings.

Tara is content, her café thriving and her relationship with Jed growing stronger, creating a comforting sense of stability. However, the reappearance of her estranged foster sister stirs long-buried pain, while Jed’s connection with his young son, Aaron, introduces new emotional challenges. These intertwined storylines are handled with sensitivity, allowing each character’s vulnerability to shine through without feeling overwhelming.

What makes this novel stand out is its emphasis on emotional authenticity and quiet resilience. Redland beautifully captures the complexities of forgiveness, trust, and healing, all set against the warm, welcoming backdrop of the Chocolate Pot Café. The strong sense of community adds depth and charm, reinforcing the idea that love—whether romantic, familial, or chosen—can help mend even the deepest wounds.

Ultimately, this is a heartfelt, uplifting story about second chances, growth, and believing in happiness again.

Cosy Café Setting

Second Chances

Healing & Forgiveness

Found Family & Community

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Happy Publication Day – 19 July 2026

Lost Secrets Of The Scottish Castle By Jane Lovering

When Perdita McKell’s brother Lennox asks her for help to fund his hairbrained scheme to renovate a tumbledown Scottish castle, she fears it will only end in disaster.

But a lifetime of sister guilt, complicated family relationships and a general sense of malaise are enough for her to ignore her instincts. The castle in question, Dunaire Castle, was the seventeenth-century home to their ancestor, the Earl George McKell, so Perdita can understand Lennox’s romantic notion that they should be the rightful owners and the ones to love it back to life.

Slowly and in ways Perdita could never have expected, Dunaire Castle begins to reveal its secrets; secrets and choices that have shaped the lives of generations of her family. As the McKell story opens up to her, Perdita realises that it’s in her hands to change the course of history and with it the course of her own life – if only she can work out how…

Review Card & Book Review – Bridesmaid’s Fast-Track Fling By Elle Brown

The billionaire is driving her wild!

In Monte Carlo for her best friend’s wedding, Olivia finds the city buzzing with anticipation for the weekend’s championship F1 race. Not that Liv has a clue about racing! Besides, she’s consumed by thoughts of the enigmatic yet gorgeous Greek she’s just met. There’s something magnetic in Nikos’s gaze that has Liv uncharacteristically putting their romance in the fast lane. But is this true love or only a pit stop? She’d better figure it out quick! Once her bridesmaid duties are fulfilled, Liv is returning home…

About The Author

My Review

This Book Is About Olivia, a bridesmaid swept into the glamour of Monte Carlo, where wedding celebrations collide with the high-octane thrill of Formula One. Amid the luxury, excitement, and unfamiliar racing world, Liv finds herself captivated by Nikos—a mysterious and irresistibly charming Greek man who ignites instant chemistry.

Bridesmaid’s Fast-Track Fling delivers a sparkling blend of romance and escapism, set against a dazzling backdrop of fast cars and fashionable settings. Elle Brown crafts an engaging story where attraction is immediate, but emotional depth builds as Liv and Nikos begin to question whether their whirlwind connection can survive beyond the weekend.

The romance is electric, filled with tension, longing, and heartfelt moments that make their dilemma feel real and relatable. Liv’s warmth and curiosity balance beautifully with Nikos’s confident, fast-paced lifestyle, creating a dynamic that keeps the pages turning.

With humour, charm, and emotional intensity woven throughout, this debut is both fun and heartfelt. Perfect for fans of glamorous settings and passionate love stories, it’s an irresistible escape that leaves you eager for more.

Whirlwind Romance

Instant Attraction

Vacation Romance

Wedding Weekend Romance

My Rating

Link To Purchase

Review Card & Book Review- Maybe It’s Fate By Heidi McLaughlin

The only thing that could pull Antonia Bernardi away from her high-powered career is her lifelong best friend. And with two children and a cruel prognosis, Miriam Vaughn needs her now more than ever.

Antonia drops everything—her job, her relationship—to be there for the Vaughns. Playing mom to Miriam’s teenage son and seven-year-old daughter is a tall order made heavier by grief. But the kids need her, and she needs them.

Then there’s the boy’s coach and mentor, former MLB star Weston Schmidt. He’s a pillar of support, a safe space for Antonia to rest. But there’s too much going on to even think about romance … or maybe that’s exactly why they should.

Adjusting to life without her best friend, Antonia leans into her new role as guardian, doing work she loves and repairing the old farmhouse Miriam cherished. Nothing can stop the world from spinning—but Antonia has every reason to keep on going.

About The Author

My Review

This Book is about Antonia, a fiercely loyal woman who upends her entire life to support her best friend Miriam after a devastating diagnosis. In stepping into Miriam’s world—helping care for her children and holding everything together—Antonia becomes the emotional anchor of the story. Along the way, she finds unexpected comfort in Weston, a former MLB player whose quiet presence offers her strength and stability.

Maybe It’s Fate is far more than a romance—it’s a deeply moving exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and found family. Heidi McLaughlin crafts a narrative that is emotionally gripping from the very first page, drawing readers into Antonia’s selfless journey. Her character shines as the heart of the novel, embodying the kind of unwavering friendship many aspire to have.

While the romance between Antonia and Weston is tender and meaningful, it takes a gentle backseat to the stronger theme of love within friendship and family. Weston’s character is likable, though slightly underexplored, leaving you wishing for more depth and shared moments between them.

Heartfelt and bittersweet, this story balances heavy themes with warmth, leaving a lasting emotional impact.

Found Family

Friends to Lovers

Caregiver Romance

Healing After Heartbreak

My Rating